Nominate for Health Dept.'s annual Enviro Star Awards

January 11, 2011

The Allegheny County Health Department is accepting nominations for its annual Enviro Star awards which honor local businesses and organizations for voluntary pollution prevention practices undertaken in 2010.

"Pollution prevention not only protects the environment and public health but also benefits the bottom line through waste reduction and conservation of resources," said County Health Director Dr. Bruce W. Dixon.

The Enviro Star awards, launched by the Health Department in 1997, recognize recipients as community leaders for implementing programs to eliminate or reduce pollution that go above and beyond what's required by environmental regulations.

One, two or three stars are awarded depending on the magnitude of the commitment to pollution prevention, with three representing the highest.

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to nominate themselves or others for their pollution prevention accomplishments.

Nominations are being accepted until March 4, and may be made by visiting the health department's web site at http://www.achd.net/envirostar/. For more information, contact Alaina Conner at 412-578-8028 or aconner@achd.net.

The 2010 Enviro Star awards will be announced on Earth Day, April 22.

Pollution prevention is defined as any act reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and re-using materials rather putting them into the waste stream.

To learn more about pollution prevention and how it can benefit a business or organization, visit http://www.epa.gov/p2/.